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James Earl "Jay" Gunning of Norman, Oklahoma passed from this life on Tuesday, April 22, 2014. He was born in Enid, Oklahoma on December 18, 1925, the son of Robert Benjamin and Jessie (Boyd) Gunning. Jay was the youngest of four brothers including Boyd, Don and Everett.
Jay graduated from Enid High School in 1944, served in the Navy for two years, and graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Accounting in 1950. He worked in the retail clothing business for fifty years, first as manager and part owner of Gray's in Enid for 20 years, then Ivey's in Charlotte, NC, Morris Levy's in Savannah, GA, Austin's in Enid, and Dillard's in Enid, Oklahoma City and Norman. Jay was an all-state basketball player at Enid High School, known as 'Pete' to his team mates, and was also the drum major of the EHS band. He spent childhood summers in Fay, Oklahoma with his many Boyd cousins, aunts and uncles. He was an active member of the AMBUCs in Enid, serving as its president in the 1960's. Jay was a charter member of Christ United Methodist Church in Enid, later attending Central Christian in Enid, then McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church after moving to Norman in 1988. He was proud of his lifelong association with the University of Oklahoma where he, his wife and five children graduated, and where his brother Boyd was the long-time executive director of the OU Foundation.
Jay is survived by his wife of forty-two years, Gail Bever Gunning, an attorney for the State of Oklahoma; her son, Howard Dammarell and wife Jennifer and their children, Sarah, Lauren, Emma, Sophie and Luke of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
He was preceded in death by his former wife, Barbara Gray Gunning of Enid and is survived by their four children, Beverly Gunning Pax and husband Fred and their children Ryon, Alyson and Nicolas of Franktown, Colorado; Bob Gunning and wife Sheryl and their children Jordan and Loren of Atlanta, Georgia; Jeff Gunning and wife Karen and their children Kate and Emma of Dallas, Texas; and Chris Gunning and wife Andrea and their children Amelia and Aaron of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Memorials may be made in his memory to the Classical Music Festival, 4721 Lake Front Drive, Norman, OK 73072 by designating the Jay Gunning Scholarship Fund.
Memorial Services will begin at 1:00 p.m., Friday, May 2, 2014 at McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church, 419 S. University Boulevard in Norman.
Arrangements for Jay and his family were placed in the care of the Vice family at the Havenbrook Funeral Home of Norman.
Online condolences may be shared at www.HavenbrookFuneralHome.com.
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